Man wanted in numerous crimes apparently strikes again

A brazen thief is suspected of robbing three more businesses in south Minneapolis. Police issued a crime alert for the Northrop and Field neighborhoods.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: March 12, 2008 - 11:19 PM

A busy late-night burglar already suspected in a dozen south Minneapolis crimes over the past two months apparently struck three more businesses over the weekend.

Lt. Arthur Knight of the Minneapolis Police Department said a man who has displayed guns and reached into cash drawers during burglaries at small businesses and convenience stores in St. Paul, Minneapolis and Edina is a possible suspect in the latest thefts, in which someone broke windows to get into the businesses.

Knight said the same man also is a suspect in a robbery Thursday at a Wells Fargo Bank on the 4700 block of Chicago Avenue S.

Police have been unable to catch the brazen and sometimes violent burglar, even though his face has been caught on surveillance cameras. He is linked to at least 12 other robberies, said Sgt. Fred McDonald of the Minneapolis Police Department.

The spate of robberies began in mid-January when the suspect purchased some items at Walgreens in the 4500 block of Hiawatha Av. S. in Minneapolis. As the cashier opened the till, the robber reached in and started grabbing money. The cashier attempted to slam the drawer while the crook's fingers were in it. But the suspect threatened to "blow away" the female cashier with a gun, police said.

Since then, the same man is thought to have hit a Lunds store in Edina along with two SuperAmerica stations and several other convenience stores and small businesses in St. Paul and Minneapolis, especially in the Field and Northrop neighborhoods around 48th Street and Chicago Avenue S. Police on Wednesday issued a crime alert for those neighborhoods.

The suspect in Thursday's bank robbery is described as a white man in his early 20s. He is about 5 feet 7 or 5 feet 8, weighs 150 to 160 pounds and has brown hair. He had a few days of facial-hair growth and sideburns at the time of the robbery. He was wearing wire-rimmed sunglasses, a black baseball cap, gray button-up shirt and black running pants with a white stripe down the side. In past crimes, the suspect has worn hooded sweat shirts.

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768

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